Plan on putting Rhinehart slip-ons and a SE Highflow air cleaner on my '09 Road King. I'm being told by the dealer that the stage 1 flash service is the same map as if a bought the race tuner and had them load down the standard map from it. I was thinking about the race tuner route (maybe) so I have the option to later dyna tune (bike is not broken in yet). My questions are, are these two maps (the stage 1 flash and the standard map from the race tuner) the same? If I don't dyna tune is there an advantage of going the race tuner route?


Finally, would the stage one set-up with the flash the dealer does provide a better running condition (richer fuel ratio) than I am currently running stock?

 

EPA Regulations will not let HD or the Dealer alter the close loop AFR. That is a fact. So the engine is still going to run at 14.6:1. The ECM monitors the O2 sensor to control the AFR for normal riding conditions.

What the Stage 1 does is:
Raise the Rev Limit- might make you feel good, but has no practical purpose.
Alters the ignition advance curves - Usually only Ultra riders provide positive feedback
VE table is changed - If the O2 sensors fail, then the ECM uses these to calculate fuel. But when was the last time you replaced an O2 sensor on your car.

So the Stage 1 ECM flash or using the SEST Stage 1 download is not going to richen normal riding on your bike.

But remember, 14.6:1 AFR is not technically 'lean'. Do not confuse the engine heat with the engine being lean. This is the same AFR as your auto runs at. It may not be lean, but the heat can be uncomfortable. There are also some tuning artifacts from the 14.6:1 AFR, like flat throttle response and some engine ping.

 

are you saying that when a dealer installs a tunner and runs it on a dyno, the afr will be at 14.6??